introduction

Following the Resicast 2 inch mortar set reviewed here, comes this mortar team set. Well, mortars need crew, and in their line up of British/Commonwealth figures Resicast provide just that in the form of a 2 man mortar team.This was a Platoon close support weapon, the gunner would normally be a NCO, probably a LCPL but just as likely a PL SGT. The ‘gunner’ would be assisted by a No. 2 who carried the bombs and loaded the weapon.Standard issue would be 3 per company, one per platoon. This weapon was issued and used widely throughout both British and Commonwealth forces during WW2. A common complaint about modelling British/Commonwealth figures is that they are always drinking tea, well not here, this is an action set!

The Set

This set comes in the standard Resicast packing for their figures, the main plastic bag containing 3 additional small plastic bags, one for each figure and one for the kit. In addition you get a small resin base on which to mount the figures if you so desire. No instructions are included but the set contains a clear colour picture to aid assembly and painting, as this is a straight forward build.

The set consists of 2 prone British/Commonwealth infantrymen, equipped in Battle Order for NWE. Both the ‘gunner’ and the No. 2 are dressed in standard BD uniform and equipped with ammo pouches, water bottle and the short stabbing bayonet for the No 4 Rifle and wearing the small standard field back pack. Heads and arms are separate items and both appear to have the Mk III helmet with camouflage on top. The casting on the figures is sharp and clear with only 2 very small casting stubs to be removed from their feet. On my No. 2 one of the stubs has come off leaving a tiny hole to be filled. Both figures are in the prone firing position with the ‘gunners’ arms bent to hold the tube and the No. 2 in the motion of loading a bomb.

Equipment comes in the form of 1 x 2 inch mortar and base plate, 2 x No 4 Rifles and 3 x carrying cases for the bombs, one of which is open should you wish to not use the base.. You also get 2 additional bombs, and a small satchel, for the gunner.

There is also a small resin base portraying some basic ground work which has a small rise in front of where the crew lie, some small rocks and 2 further bomb containers one of which has an open top.

conclusion

This is another excellent set of British/Commonwealth infantry from Resicast. I can’t fault the casting; the detail on all the items is sharp and extremely clear. As I mentioned in my review of the 2 inch mortar set, the bombs are very delicate and it would be easy to break off the tail-fins of the bomb. This has happened in the case of my No. 2's left arm which is holding the bomb. However, as I have had this set for 18 months or more and it has been moved around form various build pile to box, and back again, so I’m not really surprised.

With some minor changes in rifles, bayonets, and helmets these chaps could be used from Dunkirk onwards. The addition of the small resin base will allow these figures to be displayed as a small stand alone item, and for figure painters I would imagine this is a neat addition.